Page 15 of Saved By the Mountain Man

“This place does the best carbonara,” Jack tells me.

My tongue swells with saliva. The smell of garlic and wine hits my nose the moment we step inside.

“Jack! What a lovely surprise!”

A young lady, not much older than me, comes over and greets us. She’s wearing a red chequered apron that hugs her curvy figure.

“How are you, Marium?” Jack asks.

“Fine, thanks. What brings you to town?” Marium glances at me, her eyes capturing our locked hands. “Or should I say, who brings you to town?”

Jack chuckles a deep laugh that makes my body heat. “Oh, yes. This is Emma and she would love it if you made your special pasta for her.”

I smile and shake Marium’s hand. She makes me feel welcome and shows us to the best table in the restaurant. It’s not long before I’m sipping a glorious red wine and slurping perfectly cooked fettucine pasta. I was surprised when Jack ordered a juice, but when he’s finished it, he looks super refreshed.

“You weren’t joking when you said this was good,” I say, swiping a slop of sauce from the corner of my mouth.

Jack nods, leaning back to clutch his stomach. “It’s the best. Marium has only been here a few months, but she’s got the town talking with her food. I heard that she’s been spending some time up in the hills, getting advice from a mystery stranger.”

“For someone who stays hidden up in his cabin, you seem to know an awful lot of the town gossip, mister,” I tease, raising a brow.

Jack laughs, a booming sound that melts my heart. “Oh, don’t even get me started on my old military buddies who hang out at the bar.”

“Well if they’re anything like you, I’d love to meet them.”

Jack’s eyes darken at my words, like something has swarmed over him. I swear I hear him growl, like he’s about to jump over and wrap me in bubble wrap, ready to protect me whatever the cost.

We continue chatting the whole time as we finish our meal. Jack gives Marium a healthy tip as we leave and tells me to wait by the front door as he quickly goes to the bathroom.

I look through the window, smiling at the adorable town below. It’s nice, having felt lost my entire life, that now I’m standing here, feeling at home.

“Alright,” Jack sneaks up behind me, catching me by surprise.

“Shit,” I breathe, holding my chest.

My heart is pounding, every hair on my arm suddenly raised. It’s a feeling swarming my insides that I got used to in the city, but now I haven’t felt it in a few days, it’s making me feel nauseous.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he says, holding the door open for me.

I try a smile and step out, that sudden surprise making my legs wobbly. I guess the city will leaves its scars on me, just like the war did with Jack. Old memories will fade, but the feeling of being constantly watched won’t disappear just yet.

Luckily, Jack is quick to extinguish any bad feelings as we drive up a winding stretch of road.

I love that he’s so protective. There’s no chance of anyone laying a hand on me while he’s around. My big burly protector.

“We’ve got one last place to stop before I take you home,” Jack tells me. “It’s my favorite place ever.”

I hum in the seat next to him. “I thought we went there yesterday?”

Jack laughs and shakes his head. “I have lots of favorite places.”

Twenty minutes later we’re standing at a lookout, wind blasting through my hair. Rugged peaks of mountains are daggering the sky, the sunshine covering the landscape in a warm, golden glow.

“Emma,” Jack moves in behind me, his big hands sliding around my middle as he pulls my back against his chest. “I never thanked you for last night, but I wanted to bring you here before I did.”

“You don’t need to thank me.”

“I do. Because I’ve spent countless nights alone, the memory of seeing what I saw that night haunting me to the point where I’ve considered giving in to the dark demons inside my head.”

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